Do you know/or are you the kind of fiddler that crosses his or her legs when playing? When I see somebody playing with this posture I can’t help but imagine that the player must never know what it’s like to realize the full tonal potential of their fiddle. They probably envy the larger tone of other players and think that if only they had a better fiddle they would have a bigger tone. Secondary conditions for this malaise is the over loose wrist, and worst of all, the tendency to lean the right elbow on the right knee for support when playing! If only they sat up straight with their two feet firmly on the ground they may be surprised at the improvement in tone!!
Sorry reel player---I disagree with your statement. I've been playing fiddle since I was a child. I've almost always played with my legs crossed but can do it with my feet firmly on the ground as well. I do however sit up straight in both cases There is no difference in my playing and my tone is the same--
I could see if one was leaning towards the ground--the projection might not be the same....
I'm not wishing for a better fiddle anytime soon--I've had mine since I was a child and it has a great deep tone.
I can definitely see the tone quality lessening with a overly loose wrist though---not enough pressure on the strings and such.
ps--I also happen to know a few well-known players who also play with their legs crossed..
Sometimes I find myself pounding my foot on the floor.
Other times I find my ankles have crossed subconsciously.
Can't find it makes a bit of difference.
Now if you're all slumping over, resting elbows on tables or knees (oops, yup, I’ve done that), sure, I know my childhood classical violin teacher would have a nervous breakdown if he saw that. I'm assuming it can't be good then.
But simply crossing ones' legs can't be an issue if your back and remaining posture is 'correct'.
Of course, we be fiddlin' here, so who the heck cares about what's 'correct'? If I wanted correct I'd go play in a symphony.
If a someone’s getting a poor sound from a fiddle I doubt it’s solely from their legs being crossed!
I've come across fiddle players who always sit up straight with their two feet firmly flat on the ground. It's bloody annoying when the pub's full. They take up so much bloody room and often play too loud. I just wish they'd loosen up a bit and maybe rest their elbow on their knee and basically just chill out and stop all this bigger sound nonsence.
I've been known to play my fiddle in strange positions!! I must admit to crossing my legs and supporting my elbow on my knee when I've got tired but still want to play.
Standing up, I've been known to play standing on one leg.
When sitting down I often wrap my legs round chair legs and now I'm getting old, when I finally get up my feet/ankles are usually stiff, numb or have pins and needles!!
So is the drop in tone quality from occasionally playing in odd positions worse than players that carry on playing when the amount they've drunk affects their ability to play at all or who havn't changed their strings in 15 years and (boast about it!) or who's instrument is of a quality that should have been thrown away years ago!!
Thanks for all the replies. I still contend that uncrossing the legs and even moving around a bit more might bring interesting developments in ones playing. Like this kind of thing!
Does the same thing apply to playing with your arms crossed?
Pirate - the problem when I started on fiddle was that, I went cross-eyed whenever I tried to monitor my bow-alignment. Now I just close my eyes and go by the sound.
I know nothing about fiddleing while croos-legged.
However I did once have an accident whilst playing the bouzouki, when I attempted to uncross my ankles, and the rubber edge of the sole of my trainers stuck on the floor, and instead of uncrossing my ankles I threw myself ( and instrument ) forward to the floor. The only casualties were my pride, and the most distant tuning machine on the treble side, which was bent and had to be replaced.
I was very lucky for this incident not to have been immortalised on video and put on youtube for all to see, but the club recorder was just changing cassettes at the time.
Cross legged fiddlers!
Cross legged fiddlers!
Do you know/or are you the kind of fiddler that crosses his or her legs when playing? When I see somebody playing with this posture I can’t help but imagine that the player must never know what it’s like to realize the full tonal potential of their fiddle. They probably envy the larger tone of other players and think that if only they had a better fiddle they would have a bigger tone. Secondary conditions for this malaise is the over loose wrist, and worst of all, the tendency to lean the right elbow on the right knee for support when playing! If only they sat up straight with their two feet firmly on the ground they may be surprised at the improvement in tone!!
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by reel player
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
So they should open their legs and show us their full potential?
That could be good or bad
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by Bren
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
Sorry reel player---I disagree with your statement. I've been playing fiddle since I was a child. I've almost always played with my legs crossed but can do it with my feet firmly on the ground as well. I do however sit up straight in both cases There is no difference in my playing and my tone is the same--
I could see if one was leaning towards the ground--the projection might not be the same....
I'm not wishing for a better fiddle anytime soon--I've had mine since I was a child and it has a great deep tone.
I can definitely see the tone quality lessening with a overly loose wrist though---not enough pressure on the strings and such.
ps--I also happen to know a few well-known players who also play with their legs crossed..
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by fiddlefamily
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
now Bren.........
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by fiddlefamily
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
Sometimes I find myself pounding my foot on the floor.
Other times I find my ankles have crossed subconsciously.
Can't find it makes a bit of difference.
Now if you're all slumping over, resting elbows on tables or knees (oops, yup, I’ve done that), sure, I know my childhood classical violin teacher would have a nervous breakdown if he saw that. I'm assuming it can't be good then.
But simply crossing ones' legs can't be an issue if your back and remaining posture is 'correct'.
Of course, we be fiddlin' here, so who the heck cares about what's 'correct'? If I wanted correct I'd go play in a symphony.
If a someone’s getting a poor sound from a fiddle I doubt it’s solely from their legs being crossed!
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
I've come across fiddle players who always sit up straight with their two feet firmly flat on the ground. It's bloody annoying when the pub's full. They take up so much bloody room and often play too loud. I just wish they'd loosen up a bit and maybe rest their elbow on their knee and basically just chill out and stop all this bigger sound nonsence.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by ...
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
I've been known to play my fiddle in strange positions!! I must admit to crossing my legs and supporting my elbow on my knee when I've got tired but still want to play.
Standing up, I've been known to play standing on one leg.
When sitting down I often wrap my legs round chair legs and now I'm getting old, when I finally get up my feet/ankles are usually stiff, numb or have pins and needles!!
So is the drop in tone quality from occasionally playing in odd positions worse than players that carry on playing when the amount they've drunk affects their ability to play at all or who havn't changed their strings in 15 years and (boast about it!) or who's instrument is of a quality that should have been thrown away years ago!!
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by Tarrantella
Re: Cross? They were livid...
why would you want a big sound in this music?
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by biggus dave
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
Thanks for all the replies. I still contend that uncrossing the legs and even moving around a bit more might bring interesting developments in ones playing. Like this kind of thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jidK5X_GV3U
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by reel player
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
haha,i usually get 'link' fatigue but i have to say: thanks for posting that one!
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by biggus dave
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
I think you should apply for a grant to study the average decibel production of crossed leg vs. feet-on-the-floor fiddlers.
(crossed-leg fiddle player here. I don't think I sound too terrible).
http://www,cdbaby.com/hullksiazek
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by reenactor
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
I have met some very cross fiddlers,but all of them were legged,
I havent met many cross legless fiddlers
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by Dick Miles
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
hRm...I wonder if the tone on my fiddle would sound any different if I uncrossed my eyes when I played :/
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by *Misha*
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
Better a crross legged fiddler than a cross-eyed fiddler!
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by Pirate-Fiddler
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
Does the same thing apply to playing with your arms crossed?
Pirate - the problem when I started on fiddle was that, I went cross-eyed whenever I tried to monitor my bow-alignment. Now I just close my eyes and go by the sound.
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
loved the youtube clip...
cross legged fiddlers... sounds like a tune....
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by Wyogal
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
Somtimes, when practicing with my symphony orchestra for a few hours, it feels good to cross my legs. But never during a concert.
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by asparanay
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
I know nothing about fiddleing while croos-legged.
However I did once have an accident whilst playing the bouzouki, when I attempted to uncross my ankles, and the rubber edge of the sole of my trainers stuck on the floor, and instead of uncrossing my ankles I threw myself ( and instrument ) forward to the floor. The only casualties were my pride, and the most distant tuning machine on the treble side, which was bent and had to be replaced.
I was very lucky for this incident not to have been immortalised on video and put on youtube for all to see, but the club recorder was just changing cassettes at the time.
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
Shoot the proof-reader !
CroSS-legged !
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
How about cross-dressing fiddlers? (Ducks and runs)
# Posted on September 26th 2007 by Pirate-Fiddler
Re: Cross legged fiddlers!
never tried playing with crossed arms, does it work? I think my teacher would go off on one, but does it really matter?
# Posted on September 30th 2007 by Nicky.B